The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Wednesday, July 27, 2005

- Appointed Msgr. Giovanni Ricchiuti of the clergy of the archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, Italy, rector of the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Puglia, as archbishop of Acerenza (area 1,250, population 60,200, Catholics 60,000, priests 37, religious 60), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born in Bisceglie in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1972. He succeeds Archbishop Michele Scandiffio, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Philippe Nkiere Keana C.I.C.M. of Bondo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as bishop of Inongo (area 100,000, population 800,000, Catholics 396,000, priests 55, religious 102), Democratic Republic of the Congo. He succeeds Bishop Leon Lesambo Ndamwize, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Francisco Carlos Bach, vicar general of the diocese of Ponta Grossa, Brazil, as bishop of Toledo (area 8,000, population 344,415, Catholics 305,496, priests 47, permanent deacons 1, religious 99), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Ponta Grossa in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1977.NER:RE/.../... VIS 20050727 (200)

VATICAN CITY, JUL 27, 2005 (VIS) - The administrative council of the "Populorum Progressio" Foundation held its annual meeting in Lima, Peru, from July 19 to 22. The foundation was established by John Paul II to promote integral development among the poor, indigenous, mixed race and Afro-American rural communities of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since its creation in 1992 the foundation, which is part of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," has financed more than 2,000 projects for a total value of almost 20 million dollars, giving concrete form to "the Church's gesture of loving solidarity towards the most abandoned and needy - such as the poor, indigenous, mixed race and Afro-American rural communities - as the fruit of love and charity."

This year approval has been given to 212 projects aimed at the integral development of these peoples, with particular reference to the following areas: 36.29% for production, be it farming, small businesses, or community stores; 23.55% for communal infrastructure projects such as potable water, fencing, latrines and community halls; 18.15% for buildings such as schools, houses and health centers; 16.60% for education: training, communications, donations and publications; 5.49% for health-oriented projects, including donations and training."

The countries involved include Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, as well as Argentina, Chile and the entire Caribbean area.

Msgr. Segundo Tejado Munoz, a Cor Unum official who participated in the Lima meeting recalls that the criterion of Populorum Progressio is "the ecclesial nature of its projects."

"The Church," said Msgr. Tejado, "cannot be reduced to becoming a humanitarian aid organization; rather her mission embraces individuals in all their facets, both material and spiritual. Hence, the projects that are presented to the foundation have to include this component of Christian charity: the announcement that in Jesus Christ man has access to a Father full of love for the poor. This testimony is carried forwards by providing aid in the Holy Father's name and by including all achievements within the framework of the local Church."CON-CU/POPULORUM PROGRESSIO/TEJADO VIS 20050727 (340)